Rawalpindi plans dredging, drain clearance ahead of monsoon flood risks

RAWALPINDI: The district administration has prepared a plan to dredge Leh Nullah and remove encroachments along drains in an effort to reduce the risk of flooding in Leh Nullah and the Soan River during the monsoon.

A senior district administration official said 19 vulnerable points had been identified along Leh Nullah and the Soan River, and work would begin next month. The locations named were Kattarian, Bangash Colony, Ziaul Haq Colony, Boring Road, Dhoke Naju, Dhoke Dalal, Pirwadhai, Dhoke Hassu, Hazara Colony, Dhoke Ratta, Gawalmandi, Dhoke Ellahi Bux, Javed Colony, Nadeem Colony, Bakramandi, Tench Bhatta, Range Road and Sharoon Colony along the Soan River.

According to the official, responsibilities have been assigned to civic body officials and duty rosters have been issued for monitoring the work. He said the Water and Sanitation Agency, Rawalpindi Waste Management Company, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence and Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation would support the operation.

"Wasa will dredge Leh Nullah and RWMC and RMC will clean roadside drains and 11 big nullahs and all the work will be completed by May end," he said.

The official also said the district administration had already imposed a ban on dumping solid waste and construction material along nullahs and drains.

On encroachments, he said the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and Rawalpindi Development Authority had been instructed to complete surveys in their respective jurisdictions so that permanent encroachments could be cleared before the summer season.

He added that cleaning of Leh Nullah in the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment board areas would be the responsibility of the cantonment authorities, and coordination with them would be improved so the work could be finished before the monsoon season.

Preparations reviewed in meeting

Separately, a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema reviewed advance measures and preparations by the district administration to deal with possible flooding before the upcoming monsoon.

Officials from the relevant departments attended the meeting, where they discussed the flood plan, the availability of staff, machinery and equipment, coordination among teams, the situation in sensitive and low-lying areas, and the establishment of flood relief camps.

During the meeting, the roles of different institutions were examined, and departments were directed to remain on alert at all times to respond to any possible flood situation. The deputy commissioner instructed the concerned officials to keep all required machinery, rescue equipment and manpower ready so immediate action could be taken in an emergency.

The meeting also stressed continuous monitoring of rivers, streams and other sensitive areas, public awareness, and the provision of basic facilities at flood relief camps.

The additional deputy commissioner headquarters said the district administration would use all available resources to protect lives and property, adding that negligence would not be tolerated.